Prunus laurocerasus
English laurel
Prunus laocearusus, commonly known as the cherry laurel, is a versatile medicinal plant valued for its diverse therapeutic properties. Rich in essential oils and bioactive compounds, it is traditionally utilized to treat respiratory ailments, skin inflammations, and digestive issues. This resilient shrub offers significant potential in modern herbal pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Prunus laurocerasus
- Family: Rosaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Prunus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Rosaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Prunus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Prunus laurocerasus, is known by various names across different Chinese linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 桂樱 (zh-hans) or 桂樱 (zh-cn), while in Singapore, the same spelling 桂樱 (zh-sg) is used. In Traditional Chinese contexts, the names are written as 桂櫻 (zh-hant) and 桂櫻 (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 桂樱 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 桂櫻 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 桂櫻 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 桂樱 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 桂樱 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 桂櫻 | Wikidata |
| eu | Gerezi-erramu | Wikidata |
| pl | Laurowiśnia wschodnia | Wikidata |
| ab | Ашымҳара | Wikidata |
| fr | Laurier-cerise | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, it can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, its distribution includes countries such as Austria and Belgium. This diverse range highlights the plant's ability to adapt to different European climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Prunus laocearusus, is a medicinal species where the primary part of interest for certain applications is its fruit, which develops into small, fleshy drupes. These drupes consist of a fleshy outer layer surrounding a hard, stony endocarp that protects the seed inside. In various traditional medicinal practices, different components of the plant may be utilized, but the chemical constituents found within the drupes are often a focus of botanical study.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| drupes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Prunus laurocerasus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypotensive.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hypotensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |